Law firm participated in FBI sting of Texas school board members
Allegedly asked for $20,000 by two members of a Texas school board in order to retain its contract, a law firm representing the district reportedly cooperated with the FBI, resulting in the federal indictment (PDF) of two trustees and a city employee.
The firm, Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, specializes in tax collection matters. “In February 2015, one of our partners was approached by a board member who made a request, he felt, was inappropriate and not consistent with the values of the firm,” it said in a written statement provided to the Monitor.
“Given the request by the board member, our partner immediately sought guidance from the FBI,” the statement continues. “He followed the guidance of the FBI and assisted them in this matter.”
In April, a law firm partner handed over $3,000 in cash in a McDonald’s parking lot to Adrian Guerrero, 50, a heavy equipment operator for the city of Donna allegedly acting as a middleman for at least one of two Donna Independent School District trustees, the indictment says.
The indictment says Guerrero then proceeded to the home of school board vice president Eloy Infante, 53, and Infante later allegedly confirmed the receipt of the money by text message.
Two more cash payments of $3,500 each were subsequently made by “Person A,” one to Infante and the other to trustee Elpidio Yanez Jr., 45, the indictment states.
Both Infante and Yanez are reportedly in the process of resigning from the board. They and Guerrero are charged with conspiracy and attempted extortion. Infante and Yanez are also charged with receiving bribes, and Guerrero is charged with aiding and abetting Infante.
The defendants were released Tuesday after a court hearing, and paying $1,000 each towards $50,000 in bail, the Monitor says.
ValleyCentral.com also has a story.
